Best Public Pool

To many Northwest residents, North Capitol Street is a barrier one does not cross unless comfortably ensconced in a bus or Red Line train. But guess what? When you’re looking to cool off with a dip in the pool on a 90-degree day, there are bigger barriers than a road that separates street names ending in NW from those ending in NE. Massive overcrowding, say. Or a lack of seats that forces you to lay out on the scorching poolside concrete. So get over your phobia, trek half a block past Bloomingdale into Northeast, and escape the crowds at Banneker or the tiny lanes at Upshur with a dip into the Harry Thomas Pool. You’re pretty much guaranteed a beach chair and a spacious lane to yourself—provided not too many of you take my advice.